Idaho Lawmaker Does Not Know That the Digestive Tract Is Not Connected to the Vagina

As if we needed any more proof that politicians are not medically qualified to speak about abortion, now there's this. During a hearing on a proposed abortion restriction in Idaho that would prohibit doctors from prescribing the abortion pill via webcam, Rep. Vito Barbieri (R) asked Dr. Julie Madsen—who was testifying against the bill—whether or not a gynecological exam could be performed remotely if a woman were to swallow a small camera. "Mr. Chairman and Representative, it cannot be done in pregnancy simply because when you swallow a pill, it would not end up in the vagina," Madsen replied. Her comment was immediately followed by bursts of laughter from others in the room, because* come on*. These men have no business talking about abortion—they don't even know that our stomachs don't lead to our vaginas.

"[These] comments demonstrate exactly why politicians should not be in the business of making other people's medical decisions," said Hannah Brass Greer, Idaho Legislative Director at Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest, in a released statement. She continued: "We already knew that these politicians are only interested in restricting access to women's safe and legal medical services, and after today we can confirm they don't even have the most basic knowledge of the human body to have an informed opinion. Women deserve better leadership from our elected officials."